A Spanish parliamentary panel has rejected a bill that would let courts shut down websites offering peer-to-peer file sharing of copyrighted music and films. The 20-18 vote was a surprising defeat for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s government. It came after frantic negotiations in which the ruling Socialists failed to win support from opposition […]
As expected the party-line 3 to 2 vote in favour of the FCC’s new Net Neutrality rules got mixed reviews. President Obama congratulated the FCC and said that the government would “remain vigilant and see to it that innovation is allowed to flourish, that consumers are protected from abuse, and that the democratic spirit of […]
UK Business Secretary Vince Cable has been stripped of the power to decide the fate of the News Corp bid for the outstanding shares in Sky after he was secretly recorded saying he had “declared war on Mr Murdoch and I think we are going to win.” Cable thought he was talking, or rather bragging, […]
French anti-Internet piracy body Hadopi is reportedly sending only a fifth of the warning emails expected. The body, which has been operational since October, is meant to warn people found to have illegally downloaded copyright music and videos on the Internet, by email and then recorded delivery letter. In theory, if there are further offences […]
The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has introduced three new Promoter Members: CableLabs, DTS and PROMISE Technology. These three entities join 26 other Promoter Members spanning the consumer electronics, service provider and mobile device industries in defining the direction of the Alliance. Appointed by the DLNA Board of Directors, Promoter Members actively lead more than […]
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to pass net neutrality rules today after its chairman secured cautious support from two Democratic commissioners who favour stronger regulation of Internet traffic. The move, on the eve of today’s meeting to approve an “open Internet” order pave the way for a compromise that will prevent broadband […]
FilmOn has been halted by a restraining order from the four US networks but now founder Alki David is attacking one of the plaintiffs, CBS with YouTube addresses including ‘CBS You Suck.’ He claims CBS is hypocritical on rights in Internet distributed video and says that through its subsidiary CNET, it has distributed over one […]
Qualcomm has agreed to sell its Lower 700 MHz D and E Block (Channel 55 and 56) unpaired US spectrum licences to AT&T for $1.925 billion. The sale follows Qualcomm’s previously announced plan to restructure and evaluate strategic options related to the FLO TV business operated by FLO TV Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of […]
The European Commission is questioning Spain’s DTT migration plan over a possible violation of the technology neutrality principle by “favouring certain technologies to the detriment of others”. Brussels has urged the Spanish Government to submit in a month all information about the DTT plan and possible state subsidies to assess the case. In its probe, […]
UK media regulator Ofcom has written to News Corporation raising a number of issues relating to the media group’s proposed acquisition of the 60.1 per cent of BSkyB it doesn’t already own, according to UK media reports. The document, known as an issues statement, sets out concerns raised by interested parties, including commercial rivals, during […]